Nieuws van de afdeling

28 October 2009

Enquiry launched into money-grubbing Antillian politicians

On the initiative of SP Member of Parliament Ronald van Raak, Secretary of State Ank Bijleveld is to establish an enquiry into how many former politicians in the Dutch Antilles are lining their own pockets at the public expense. This week saw revelations that a former minister from Sint Maarten had been given a sinecure of a job at a salary of €12,500 per month. Beyond this basic income this ex-politician receives a whole range of unjustified bonuses and is able to claim reimbursement of expenses at double the rate actually paid out. Van Raak wants to know how many such cases exist and how the government intends to intervene to prevent the abuse.

27 October 2009

Bar set too high for Latvia

In 1991 Argentina opted for an ultraliberal exchange rate policy under which the peso was valued at parity with the US dollar. What this meant in practice was that Argentina was giving up part of its sovereignty, with interest rates determined by the Fed, the US central bank in Washington, DC. In the first instance the new policy appeared to be working out well, but the strength of the dollar at the time made life ever more difficult for Argentine exporters. In 2001 Argentina ended up in deep crisis. The IMF responded by demanding and getting the implementation of draconian cuts, the aim being to maintain the link between peso and dollar. Yet the Argentine currency eventually collapsed, with the peso's value declining by 75%. The enormous price increases which followed led to an equally huge increase in poverty. Exports, however, recovered. The government was, moreover, able after this to stimulate the economy and break with the IMF. Spectacular recovery ensued..

27 October 2009

Nuclear disarmament: steps must be taken which inspire confidence

The discussion regarding nuclear weapons in Europe has found particularly acute expression in the Dutch parliament. This is to be celebrated, in the opinion of SP Member of Parliament Harry van Bommel, in view of the fact that NATO is on the eve of holding its own debate on the alliance's new strategy. Nuclear weapons should no longer form the cornerstone of NATO policy.

25 October 2009

SP leader Agnes Kant visits Dutch troops in Afghanistan

While other party leaders were in Suriname, Agnes Kant chose to join a number of fellow members of the Dutch parliament visiting the country's troops stationed in Afghanistan. “The enormous involvement and the effort put in by the Dutch soldiers made a strong impression on me," said Kant. "Whatever we may think of this mission, you have to have respect for that."

24 October 2009

Jobs for the Antillian old boys: SP demands explanation

SP Member of Parliament Ronald van Raak is demanding an explanation from the government regarding a former minister from the Dutch Caribbean dependency of Sint Maarten who has been given what appears to be a €12,500 per month sinecure. "This sort of money-grubbing by politicians in the Antilles seems to know no limits," says Van Raak. "This ex-minister has now found himself with an undemanding administrative job for which he earns more than our prime minister!"

24 October 2009

NATO's New Strategic Concept must define relations with the rest of the world

NATO and its member states must recognise that in a fast-changing world new answers must be found to the security questions of the twenty-first century. They sometimes seem not to realise that the Cold War is in the past and that NATO must redefine its position in the global security architecture. In addition, the alliance should not be afraid to look for unorthodox solutions. That was the message of the seminar "NATO at 60- the future ahead” organised by the Dutch Senate on Friday on an initiative from the SP.

International